When it comes to purchasing licenses for Windows there are a number of different channels that you can purchase through. The most common license types are Retail (FPP (Full Packaged Product)), OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), and Volume Licensing. Each Windows license type confers rights and imposes restrictions based on the Microsoft Software License Terms.

This tutorial will show you how to determine if your Windows is activated with a Retail, OEM, or Volume channel license type.

This when you buy a Full Packaged Product (FPP), commonly known as a "boxed copy", of Windows from a retail merchant or purchases Windows online from the Microsoft Store. Product keys can be transferred to another PC.

OEM

Product keys are issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and are not-for-resale and may not be transferred to another computer. They may, however, be transferred with the computer if the computer is transferred to new ownership. If the OEM PC came preinstalled with Windows 8 or Windows 10, then the product key will be embedded in the UEFI firmware chip.

Volume

KMS Client and Volume MAK product keys, are volume license keys that are not-for-resale. They are issued by organizations for use on client computers associated in some way with the organization. Volume license keys may not be transferred with the computer if the computer changes ownership. This form of licensing typically applies for business, government and educational institutions, with prices for volume licensing varying depending on the type, quantity and applicable subscription-term. A volume license key (VLK) denotes the product key used when installing software licensed in bulk, which allows a single product key to be used for multiple installations. For example, the Windows Enterprise edition is activated with a volume license key.

Problem with this, it does not do anything for telling status of digital licences from a 7/8 upgrade, as you only get a generic 10 key.

According to EULA, upgrade gets same status as original install, but it is well established that you cannot (as far as we know) tell the history of a digital licence - this is why transferring digital licences to a new device works regardless of compliance with EULA.

In reality, digital licences have blurred the boundary between oem and standalone.

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Product keys are issued by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and are not-for-resale and may not be transferred to another computer. They may, however, be transferred with the computer if the computer is transferred to new ownership. If the OEM PC came preinstalled with Windows 8 or Windows 10, then the product key will be embedded in the UEFI firmware chip.

You can also buy an OEM license from Newegg for example. Many people do as it is cheaper than full retail even though according to the EULA it is only intended for new build PCs you intend to sell. It still has the transfer restrictions of a built in license but in that case the key isn't embedded in firmware.

I think a distinction between OEM license you can buy and OEM license that comes preinstalled on a new Dell/Lenovo etc would help this tutorial.

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No-one can answer you that question. If you acquired it in Germany it is (Germany is even listed as an exception in the MS EULA if you read it). Elsewhere it hasn't been tested in court so anyone's opinion would be just an opinion not a fact.

You should let your conscience guide you. Assuming you know what is morally right and what is wrong you try to do the right thing. If you do then probably everyone will be happy.

If you are asking if it is morally right to transfer a license you bought as OEM then I'd say yes it is as MS would stop it if they wanted to so implicitly you are complying with their wishes. Many would disagree. Discussion of morality isn't really constructive in an IT tutorial though so it is probably best to leave it.

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Hi
A question about license and activation. I bought several months ago a Windows 8.1 Home Full-Retail license that I had used until I've upgraded to Windows 10 on the day-one (29-7).
Since a couple of month I've a Msdn subscription from my...

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I have a retail version of Win 7.
I have been using on a separate machine, the Windows Insider Technical Preview.
It is my understanding that you MUST upgrade before doing a clean install.
1) Is that true?
2) Do I get a new license number?
3)...

According to this Microsoft Community thread:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install/how-do-i-transfer-windows-retail-license-after/6ee1dfe0-8adc-4cce-a46a-748963cf56d1?rtAction=1438237655029
when we...

So the MS position on upgraded Win 7 / 8 machines is straight-forward: for the life of the device. But what does this mean for non-OEM people, who are using a retail Windows license, which they upgrade to Windows 10?
If they get a new PC, and...

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